buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

[redone4x4]

last year after going out no my boat a few times, my buddy bought a boat. A 19' VIP with a V6 OMC for $3500. I went with him to look at it and give my opinion. I told him it wasnt a good deal but he already had a cashiers check and bought it anyways . So thats how it starts. Then on the first trip out he has problems with it and I tow him back in. $500 later at the shop it runs again.

Well long story short, hes selling it now so I asked him how much. He said $3000 and i laughed a little. So he says well nothing is wrong with it. So i point out everything: needs a window, needs a new deck, reverse cable, trailer brakes, new interior, bellows, windshield support, etc. He ended up getting mad at me because I asked if he was going to disclose everything wrong with it when selling. This is the kinda guy that hasnt touched his boat since the last time he had it on the water.

I know he needs the money now, but I dont think its right to pass on all those problems for that price. At the most, i feel its worth about $1000 maybe. I dont know, I just feel like hes gonna screw somebody on purpose and thats not right.

Did i have any business saying anything to him or should i have just let it be? I was just wondering if anyone else has been in this situation?

 

[jbjennings]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

I think you were wrong to quiz him........It's his boat and he can ask whatever he wants for it. The buyer has the responsibility to check it out and make their own decision.
JMO,
JBJ

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

I to for the most part say buyer beware.
A smart new buyer will bring a friend that tells him not to buy it, like you did.
People are silly, they know something is bad and will do it anyway.

I have had to learn the hard way in boating, (and everything else) and i fell good about it. Those lessons are the ones you remember.

Next time he askes for advise, maybe he will listen.

 

[JRJ]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

Sounds like your buddy had his feelings hurt. At the moment there are some really good sounding deals on boats. Good time to buy, not so good to sell.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

I'll probably end up apologizing. I just feel that he shoulda fixed all that stuff if he expects that kind of money. I just fear some family man gets excited and buys this boat then gets stuck shelling out big $$$ before he can even take his kids on the lake.

But, i guess buyer beware is how i should have looked at it maybe and just not said anything.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

I guess it is up to him, but I sure wouldn't do it to somebody. Especially the bellows. I couldn't live with myself if I cheated someone. Just don't be there when he sells anything. People call it horse trading to gloss it over but it is still cheating someone not to disclose problems you know about as a seller.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

I guess it is up to him, but I sure wouldn't do it to somebody. Especially the bellows. I couldn't live with myself if I cheated someone. Just don't be there when he sells anything. People call it horse trading to gloss it over but it is still cheating someone not to disclose problems you know about as a seller.

I'm the same way. My first boat was a wreck. I didn't know any better. Bad transom, bad floor, bad stringers, bad deck and bad engine. I rebuilt EVERYTHING and sold it for right around what I had paid for it. Bad for the bank account, good for the soul
.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

He didn't listen to you the first time friend or not I doubt I would have said anything the second time,their are a lot of educated buyers that have buddy's like you that do listen.I myself always bring a buddy that is not emotionally attached to what I am going to buy (after 1st look) to get his opinion and then I weigh what I know and what my buddy's know to see if I really want it(or deal with it)

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

W C Fields said it best "There is a sucker born every minuet" That was then, now I think is more like every second. He will expect someone like himself to buy the boat not knowing much about them. I too have a 19' VIPig. Its been in my back yard for 6 years being hidden by weeds

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

The guy can ask whatever $ figure he likes.
Finding someone that will give him that many $ is another thing.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

There was this one time in band camp, when I had this girlfriend who really did look fat in that dress ......

Get my drift?



???

 

[redone4x4]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

There was this one time in band camp, when I had this girlfriend who really did look fat in that dress ......

Get my drift?



???

not exactly. what are you getting at?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

not exactly. what are you getting at?

Come on, read it slowly !!!!

 

[tswiczko]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

Sounds like was angry with himself for not listening to you in the first place and pointing all the defects out aggitated him even more about getting stuck with a boat that needs many repairs(and that he didn't take sound advise).

I hope it doesn't make him feel better if he unloads it on someone who is naive.

As far as apologies are concerned, I would let him know that I was sorry he didn't take good advise the first time around. And it's obvious he is not going to take it the second time.

I would have a few people I know that have knowledge of boats set up appointments to look at it and have them pick it apart for him not to make him feel bad but to let him know there ARE people out there who know more than he does.

 

[KeyWestSkipper]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

not exactly. what are you getting at?

Sometimes when someone asks your opinion, they aren't really looking for your independent opinion, they really just want you to validate some conclusion they've already reached, especially one that is clashing with their common sense.

Like the wife who is thinking "I've gained a bunch of weight and this dress is not flattering the way it used to be or the way I hoped it would be", puts you in the crosshairs with the classic "Do I look fat in this dress?" question.

And we alllllllll know how that goes.

or in this case "Is this boat a good deal?", when he's already decided to pull the trigger have a cashier's check cut without putting in due diligence and exercising the basic, commonsense buyer precautions you'd associate with buying a boat.

 

[rbh]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

That's the problem with buddies, sometime's you're damned if you do or damned if you don't.

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

What you did to your friend was give him a huge 'I told you so' when you picked his boat apart that way. Nobody likes that. He'll no doubt hear plenty about the boat's defects and what the boat is really worth from prospective buyers, so let them do the dirty work. If someone buys it anyway, then buyer beware. I would definitely tell a prospective buyer about the boot needing to be replaced. That's a safety issue I wouldn't want on my conscience.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

well, hopefully the buyer will have it surveyed, or atleast pre-inspected, by a knowledgable person. i have done many pre- inspections, owner required to watch inspection, and hears exactly my opinion of his boat, at the same time i tell the potential buyers, and my estimation, of repair cost.

yes, i, P O many sellers, but when they buy their next boat, many call me to do the inspection.

 

[jonesg]

Re: buddy with a bad boat and mad at me???

Re-read your original post...

Well he didn't ask for your considered opinion, you argued it and in doing so you judged him as you laughed at his price. Yeh I would have done the same too.




"For some the light of truth shines, for others it only burns,
woe be unto him who shines the light upon them."